Year 2: Week 19 - Another year older

Key Term: Occupational Balance

You know you are a masters student when you get up at 5am on your birthday to get to uni for a research supervision...

Research Research Research

If you read last weeks post you will know I was focusing on my dissertation, and for much of this week that was the same as I had a supervision on Thursday so needed to get myself organised for that. It was handy to have a supervision at this point as it allowed my check in where I was at, and check I wasn't missing anything major at this stage.

I was glad to have a chance to work out how to actually look at my data, The impact of being a complete novice with research is uncertainty at ever stage of this process so the input from my supervisor to share her knowledge was a plus in helping deal with this uncertainty.

Developing OT Practice

This week was also the start of our last uni module, and I was right in thinking it will be an interesting module, looking at emerging areas of practice and how we could pitch services which will all be helpful skills after graduation.

Occupational Balance

Since I was in class on my birthday, my lovely friends organised a surprise birthday afternoon tea which was a lovely end to the day. Doing the masters course can be really stressful at times, so having these little social occasions to look forward to helps keep the spirits up, and keep the balance in our activities.

Now, time to get on with the list of actions on my to do list....

For more insight into my journey to become an occupational therapist; follow me on twitter: @OTontheTracks

Week 37: The Week of Being a Tourist and BAOT N&Y Student Conference

Yum!

Key Term: Occupational Balance

Panda Selfie at Edinburgh Zoo

The week between finishing placement and going back to uni for the last few months of first year was filled with fun, food and inspiration. Any health care student or practitioner reading this that has had placement as part of their training how all consuming they can be when you are on them. I don't say this as a negative, I enjoy getting to really delve into it when I'm on placement but it is a tiring experience that takes most of my energy anyways. It can sometimes feel that you have lost the occupational balance when you are also trying to do uni work so I felt having a friend to visit gave a brilliant excuse to re balance and have a bit of fun being a tourist in my own city. I had such a fun time just exploring the city and enjoying the sunny weather. 

Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh adventures...

We spend a day exploring Edinburgh Zoo (which was unusually quiet) in the sun! Yes it was sunny in Scotland!

I was inspired by some art in the many Art Galleries visited around Edinburgh. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art was my personal favourite! 

I also got to share my love of Edinburgh Castle with Vicky which I'm sure was a super Scottish experience for her - Learning about the history of battles between Scotland and England. 

It was also really good to spend some time just chilling over food and tea, which is always a plus!


York adventures....

The end of the week was spent in York to attend the BAOT N&Y Student conference, I will blog about this soon so look out for my thoughts on the day. 

The trip also gave us time to explore York the day before and be tourists there too.  It really is such a beautiful city and has lots of history to learn about - clearly could have done than more than half a day to explore... Seems like a good excuse to revisit in the future! 

Ready and re-energised to tackle the rest of first year!!

#OTPhotoChallenge 2015

As part of #OTMonth2015 (America) I took part in the @OTforKids 30 day 'OT Photo Challenge'

I have been using Instagram to do the challenge, so thought id let the rest of you see the pictures in one post...

Day 1: #ILove my other half and partner in crime

Day 2: #Occupied with one of my favourite boardgames

Day 3: #Rest

Day 4: #Travel

Day 5: #ImHappy because I have an incredible God, a fab
church family, It's Easter and It's Spring!

Day 6: #Help - Thankful for support to move into halls
before starting placement tomorrow

Day 7: #Routine - Today and most Tuesdays for the next
8 weeks of placement.
Often we forget how tiring changing out routine can be!

Day 8: #Work - Lots of reading about the Care Act for
placement.

Day 9: #MostFun - a year ago I was mid way through an
awesome trip to Australia.

Day 10: #feelings - Remembering my love for Harry Potter
this week. I think it is so important that as OTs to see the best
 in people and find out what makes them happy & gives them
meaning, and help them to be able to continue or access those things

Day 11: #nature - One of my favourite occupations is to
go for a good walk when its sunny.

Day 12: #Favourite - Here are some of my favourite people,
places and things. Too many to fit :) They keep me focused
and happy and are there in the good and the bad times.

Day 13: #IWill use social media to increase awareness
of occupational therapy and develop as a professional.

Day 14: #Adapt - I can adapt to make it easier for me
to read my lecture slides and notes by using coloured
overlays and paper

Day 15: #Mindful - As OTs we are holistic thinkers, we look
at where an individual is in their journey and importantly
we are mindful of what got them to this point and
where THEY want to go :)

Day 16: #Friends 

Day 17: #Chat - Couldn't go through #OTPhotoChallenge without
plugging one of my favourite occupations/CPD things.
 Check out #OTalk on twitter on Tuesdays between 8pm-9pm
for great chat on topics focusing on #occupationaltherapy
and #occupationalscience.

Day 18: #inspired - OT can change the world, one activity at a time.

Day 19: #unique - i love having the privilege to get to know what
makes each person unique! As an OT remembering the
importance of what makes each person who they are is key! 

Day 20: #meaning to me :). As OTs finding out and understanding peoples
cultures, beliefs, values and what makes the stuff we do
meaningful to them = meaning makes activities turn into occupations...

Day 21: #thisworld - It's an occupational world... #uocOT

Day 22: #ican master activity analysis in practice.

Day 23: #Memory - as OTs we like to get a good picture of each
individuals life and that can include their happy and sad
memories but we also can assess peoples cognition which
looks at a persons memory - this helps us gain a better understanding
on how an individual is able to manage their everyday tasks. 

Day 24: #habit - OT will focus on what's important to you, including what you like to do day to day. Its may look to
see if there is a way to #adapt those activities to accommodate for illness or injury so you can still engage in what you enjoy.

Day 25: #play - #OccupationalTherapy will use the things you enjoy as a way to help you therapeutically.
This may be through games, art, music, drama - the list is endless!
Occupation is key to helping someone engage, 

Day 26: My #LeastFavourite part of studying to become an
 #OccupationalTherapist is the super early starts to commute to uni.
Love the rest of the experience! :)

Day 27: #Iwantto make a difference in peoples lives.
 I want to help them do the things they love and get the most out of their lives.

Day 28: #Change 

Day 29: #living 'If you want something you have never had, then
you've got to do something you have never done!'
Deciding to train to be an #occupationaltherapist is one of the best and scary
 decisions i've made in my life so far. I love that it allows
 me to help people go about #living their lives, doing the things that are meaningful to them.

Day 30: #DefineOccupation 'the things you do day to day,
that are important and meaningful to you as an individual.'